USF Softball Heads to Syracuse for the End of the Regular Season

Sara Nevins and company will look to end the regular season on a high note.

The USF Bulls, 44-8 (16-3), and ranked 16th in the nation, hit the road for the final series of the regular season as they take on the Orange of Syracuse for three games.  The Bulls are coming off of a strong sweep against Villanova last weekend and will look to head to the Big East tournament with momentum, but the Orange won't make it easy.

Syracuse is 38-12 (15-4) on the year and are 11-1 at home this season and are in the midst of a 4-game winning streak of their own, so something has to give between the two sides (double header scheduled for today begins at 12PM, the second game is scheduled for 2PM.  The series wraps up on Sunday at 11AM).

Syracuse is led by sophomore outfielder Lisaira Daniels (5-4) who is batting .331 with 9 home runs, 30 RBIs, and has 17 steals on the season.  Senior 2B Stephanie Watts (5-6) is batting .303 with 8 home runs and has 26 RBIs.  Junior centerfielder Veronica Grant (5-7) is batting .275 with 2 home runs and has 11 RBIs on the season.  Freshman utility player Julie Wumbold (5-8) is batting .263 with 11 home runs and has 32 RBIs on the year.  Syracuse has a powerful lineup that has multiple home run threats in its ranks.  Sara Nevins and the pitching staff will have their hands full in this series.

The Orange pitching is led by senior RHP Jenna Caira (5-9) who is 23-6 on the year with a 1.65 ERA.  She has tossed 191.1 innings, allowing 111 hits, 83 walks, and has struck out 239 batters (over 1000 strike outs in her career).  Junior RHP Stacy Kuwik (5-7) is 13-3 with a 1.54 ERA while working 104.2 innings, allowing 37 walks and has struck out 128 batters.  The Orange have two terrific pitchers that attack the strike zone.  Look for the top of the batting order (Kafalas, Richardson, and Medina) to set the tone for the series and get people on base early and often.

This is a huge series for the ladies.  They want to end the season on a high mark as they look not only for the Big East tournament next Thursday in South Bend, but also for the NCAA tournament picture.  Taking 2 out of 3 games against a tough opponent like Syracuse would add to their impressive resume and would help them in the Big East tournament and hopefully into the Big Dance.